VIB

VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) is a prominent life sciences research institute based in Ghent, Belgium, renowned for its fundamental research in areas spanning pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. Unlike a conventional venture capital firm, VIB's primary mission is to conduct cutting-edge scientific research and translate its discoveries into tangible applications. This translation is primarily achieved through a robust technology transfer program that focuses on creating and nurturing spin-off companies directly from its research findings.

VIB's "investment" model is unique, as it functions more as a co-founder and strategic partner for its own deep-tech ventures rather than an external investor. The institute provides invaluable intellectual property, scientific expertise, and access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure. While its core function is research, VIB actively participates in the initial capitalization of its spin-offs, often taking an equity stake and contributing direct capital to help these companies get off the ground and attract further external funding.

Since its inception, VIB has demonstrated a remarkable track record in fostering innovation, having successfully created over 30 spin-off companies. These ventures have collectively attracted substantial external investment, raising more than 1.6 billion euros in capital to advance their groundbreaking technologies and products. VIB's direct financial contributions, therefore, are typically part of the initial seed or pre-seed rounds for these highly specialized biotech and life sciences start-ups.

The typical "first cheque" from VIB is not a broad investment in external companies but rather an initial capital injection into its own spin-offs. These contributions are designed to support critical early-stage development, proof-of-concept studies, and team building. Based on the capital intensity of early-stage life sciences ventures and VIB's role in providing foundational support, these initial investments typically range from $500,000 to $3,000,000. This strategic early funding is crucial for de-risking the technology and preparing the spin-offs for larger subsequent funding rounds from traditional venture capital firms.